My Personal Book List
Reading all the books on these lists I have come across several books that I both felt people did not need to read while I found others that I so thoroughly enjoyed that I feel everyone should read sometime in their lives. This is my list of books I feel should be read. It is subdivided by category so that when deciding what book you want to read they can it it out by the mood they are in.
No rules so far but I want to try and limit the works to the author's best.
Romances
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (October-November 2007)
On the Norwegian and BBC lists - Contrary to the bizarre title this is a very good book. The title just signifies the time period that takes place and is not a the basis of the story. The book is a love story with a girl whose father tries to get her married above her station and two men who both fall for the girl. The one man is about the same level as the girl and he falls head over heals for her while the other man is a very prominent doctor who is the supreme bachelor in the community. The story starts off with the woman and the doctor as an old married couple then flashes back to the beginning of the story. It then slowly moves through the lives of these three people advancing a little on one character then falling back again with another character's story. Marquez does this phenomenally so that you do not even realize that the story changes from one character's narrative to another. The story is rather riveting and it kept me worried throughout the story about all the characters. There is no clear "good guy" or "bad guy" so I found myself cheering for both of them, worried that something major would go wrong. I would definitely recommend this for anyone in a romantic mood.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (July 2004)
On the Norwegian, Sybervision, and BBC lists - A book on my must read list and definitely my favorite of the Austen works. The story follows the lives of several people of different social standings all wooing each other. This results in people of completely different attitudes and mannerisms actually finding love with each other. Humorous at times and the easiest of Austen's works to read.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (December 2003)
On the the Observer, Sybervision, and BBC lists - Another on my must read list. It follows the life of the title character as she starts in an orphanage and eventually goes on to live with Mr. Rochester. A fun romantic novel with an air of mystery.
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins (July-August 2007)
On the BBC and Observer lists - The story is about a mysterious woman escaped from an Asylum who crosses the path of the main character (Walter Hartright) and who happened to be intimately intertwined with his events afterwards. The narrative follows several different people who were associated with her story through until the end of it. This is a mystery so I will not give away any of the more interesting points and ruin the story for those who wish to read it but I can say it is a love story and that at the end everything turns out well. I recommended this book to anyone since it is very easy to read, flows naturally and is enthralling from the get go. The climax seems to come a bit early but even though the narrative slows down a bit it never stops. Very entertaining.
Middlemarch by George Eliot (January - March 2008)
On the Sybervision, Norwegian, Zane, and the BBC lists - I rather enjoyed this book, it started off slow but as the book went on it picked up its pace rather well. Although the book was the longest I have yet read, about 900 pages, the plot was simple enough that it was easy to follow through the whole book. Middlemarch is a town in England where the book follows the lives of the families there, mainly two different families and their daughters. The book also shows a lot of conflicts including doctors versus faith, modern medicine versus traditional medicine, and similar subjects. There was an initial period that took me to get used to the language but afterwards I easily understood and followed the story. I can easily recommend this book as a great story with good lessons, if you are willing to take the time to read it.
Tom Jones by Henry Fielding
(May - July 2008)
On the Sybervision and Observer lists - Although it is a rather long book (my copy was over 850 pages) I did greatly enjoy reading it. The author is more of a narrator then an impartial observer. He readily makes comments throughout the book that makes you feel like you are sitting by a fire listening to him relay the story. It was definitely a different approach then most I have read and I greatly enjoyed it. The story was exquisite. It is about a bastard, Tom, who was abandoned by his mother to be raised by a very benevolent man. Although I did not readily agree with some of the lessons at the end of the book (how birth makes more of a difference on who the boy is, not just his character) I still enjoyed it and the ending did bring a tear to my cheek. I thought that how the author kept making Tom's situation worse and worse that there was no way to bring him back in a believable manner, but it worked out and rather well at that. I definitely enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone with a few months to read it.
Comedy
Tartuffe by Moliere (December 2007)
On the Sybervision List - Although I am not a big proponent of plays I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Enough so to put it on my list. The play only took me about 2 hours to finish and it was very easy to follow along. The plot is about this rich family where the father takes in this beggar (Tartuffe) and he dotes on him as a beloved son to the exclusion of his whole family. He does this to the point of pledging him to marry his daughter whom he already pledged to another man. The play is very witty and invokes a pretty good moral lesson. And best of all, everything works out in the end.
Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand (March-April 2008)
On the Sybervision List - My wife found a website that sends a portion of a story each day in your email (DailyLit). I thought that I might try it on some of my shorter stories where purchasing the book did not seem like it was going to happen soon. Well after 62 installments I finished Cyrano de Bergerac and I not only highly enjoyed the story I also enjoyed the daily portions. The story is about an ugly, due to his large nose, but extremely eloquent and proud man named Cyrano who is in love with a beautiful woman, Roxane. Unfortunately Roxane is in love with another man, Christian, and asks Cyrano to help Christian talk to her. Eventually she falls in love not with the handsome Christian but with his "soul" that he expressed in his words and letters, the words and letters that Cyrano wrote. The story is humorous, heartfelt, and well written. I definitely recommend this to anyone in the mood for a romantic comedy, even though it is a play.
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde (July 2008)
On the Sybervision List - The one thing I love about reading plays it that they are fast. You get the introduction, the conflict, and the resolution all within about 2 hours. This play was one of the shorter ones and it was rather funny. It is about a made up person named Earnest and two men who pretend to be him. Both who get engaged to different women. As you can imagine, hilarity ensues (I had to say that). It is a very fast paced narrative and the situations are not altogether unbelievable. I rather enjoyed it and will place it on my recommended reading list.
Sci-Fi and Fantasy
The Lord Of The Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien (January - February 2005)
On the Observer and BBC lists - For a book that took ten years to write, you can tell. The story is so in depth and the languages that were created so complete that you can almost feel like this is an actual world. Word of advice, read The Hobbit first then expand into this book because The Hobbit flows into this book. Also watching the movies after reading these books gives you so much insight that upon first viewing I missed. The characterization in some of the best I have ever read. Unfortunately the movies did not portray my favorite character in the book which was Tom Bombodil and anyone who has read this would probably agree with me. Again the book is fantastic, you just need to read it to appreciate it. Definitely on my must read list.
The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy by Douglas Adams (March 2005)
On the BBC list - I thought this book was absolutely hilarious, although it might be because I like obscure British humor. The plot follows one man who gets transported off Earth just as it is about to be destroyed, then following him as he is shuffled around the galaxy. The following books also continue the plotline and are enjoyable to read as well although the last couple are a little bizarre and kind of destroy all the previous plotline. On my list of books to read, and if you have time, read the entire series.
The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe by CS Lewis (May 2005)
On the BBC list - A very easy to read book and highly enjoyable. I read The Chronicles of Narnia in the order they were meant to be read, so this book was not the first one I read. I enjoyed it that way because it gave more of a background. Although it is a kid's book this is a good book, and will be enjoyed by kids of all ages. The chapters of the Narnia series written later became a lot more preachy then the first few, but it is not bad enough to drive people away. That would have to be my only pet peeve about the stories. The storyline follows a bunch of kids who find themselves in another world by going through a magical wardrobe and find themselves drawn into an all out war of good versus evil. Definitely on the must read list.
His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman (June - July 2006)
On the Observer and BBC lists - This is a trilogy if books where the first book (under the UK title) is on the Observer list. The story is a cross between The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings, less in depth than Rings and less preachy than Narnia. The cross between the two stories that takes the best of both. Very quick and easy to read. The plot is about parallel universes and how a couple kids are destined to save us all. It is well written and a very fast read (about 1000 pages in about 2 weeks). In the end all the plot lines get wrapped up neatly, although I disagree with how it ended although there was no other way it could have gone. The story is very enthralling not letting me put it down the further I went into the story.
Dune by Frank Herbert (December 2006)
On the BBC list - This is advertised as the first book of the bestselling science fiction series of all time, and I feel that is a deserved title. Although written back in the 60's this novel has themes that still ring true today. The story takes place during the distant future (at least 12,000 years) and the only concrete evidence that it even takes place in our universe is a quick mention of Earth in the appendix. It is about a 15 year old boy who turns out to be the prophet that a culture of desert dwellers has been anticipating. He then must not only to learn to live in the harsh environment but to use his gifts properly. I recommend this book because not only is it the precursor to all modern day sci-fi stories but it is riveting and extremely well written. The only problem is now I have to read the rest of the series.
Historical Fiction
For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway (2001?)
On the Sybervision list - My favorite of the Hemingway books and one of the few with a plot I easily remember years later. The story follows an American soldier in the Spanish Civil War. There are 4 main characters each with opposing viewpoints on war and morality, some for it, some against, but all in it. Its a story that focuses on the morality of war and if this (or any) war is worth fighting. Another on my list of must reread and definitely on my list of best books.
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo (April - May 2006)
On the Sybervision list - This book was absolutely enthralling. Having seen the play numerous times when I was younger I thought I would remember the story line but I did not. The story is two fold, one following the French Revolution following the fall of Napoleon at Waterloo, the second follows an ex-convict while he tries to redeem his life. I won't give away any details but the storyline does get a bit confusing at times but always keeps you guessing. Definitely on my must read list.
Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison (December 2007 - January 2008)
On the Observer list - I rather enjoyed this story but I am not sure if it should go on my must read list. It is rather vulgar through most of the story but it tells a very good tale. The story seems to be partly about a black man living in a intolerant society. I read comments elsewhere that this is a work about living as a black person during the early 20th century but I do not think so. That plays a part of it but it seems to be just background for the real story. The deeper story is about a man learning about his roots (his people) and learning that family is more important than anything else. The flow of the story carries it along at a great pace and you never know what might happen next, but it all works. Ok, I will put this on my list but with a warning that this has very harsh language but it is not used randomly and fits into the story very well.
Drama
The Call of the Wild by Jack London (September 2005)
On the Sybervision and Observer lists - This book was fantastic. I highly recommend it to anyone especially dog lovers. It is gripping and it is intense, so much so it makes you want to read more and to top it all off, its short. Only about 80 pages. I read it in about 2 days and did not try that hard. It is about a dog, Buck, who was kidnapped from California and taken to Alaska to be a sled dog. The book is entirely through the dogs perspective but it does not have any of the cheesy "dog voices". Not once do you hear what they are saying but you get how he is feeling, especially among his interactions with other dogs and humans. Again I highly recommend, you won't be disappointed.
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens (2004)
On the Sybervision, Norwegian, and BBC lists - My favorite of the Dickens' novels and on my must read list. It follows the life of Pip, as he is saved by a convict and eventually grows up and finds love. At times the plot moves a little slowly and through a variety of ups and downs in the character's life. All in all the balance is well written and easy to follow.
Tragedy
The Stranger by Albert Camus (October 2007)
On the Norwegian List - This is a very short book and easy to read. I read it in just a couple of hours, but that does not mean it cannot be a meaningful book. The story is set in first person narrative about a man who is so self absorbed that he feels little or no emotion through everything that happens to him and does not realize most of the life that is passing him by. The book starts off with his mother's death, that he never shows remorse for, and that is one of the reasons for his downfall at the end. The main character is led to murder another man and his character is the deciding factor in his innocence. He eventually realizes what he has been like but by then it is too late. The book is written in the "American" style that I particularly enjoy. Short, crisp sentences that are easy to read and easy to understand. I am going to put this on my must read list because not only is it enjoyable, it also provides a pretty good life lesson.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (May 2006)
One of the 2 on all 4 of the 100 lists - A very weird book, not at all what I thought it would be. I considered this to be what is termed "chic lit" (as seen on Jeopardy). I couldn't have been more off. This is one of the most depressing books I have read yet. It is more of how Satan himself can corrupt people in retched beings but in the end sometimes they pull through. Most of the story takes place as a flashback of one of the former housekeepers. It is a little confusing and un-enjoyable at first because of the erudite language she used, but after a few chapters I got used to it. After the flashback it shows an orphaned child, Heathcliff, brought back to the house who is shunned by all, who eventually takes over everything. Since most of this is known at the start of the story, it is interesting to see how everything comes about and to see how two separate families who differ in everything (intelligence, strength, and health intermingle). On my must read and it should be on yours.
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor M Dostoyevsky (1999)
On the Norwegian, Sybervision, and BBC lists - Another book on my must read list. The story follows a man who feels he can commit the "perfect murder" then his resulting turmoil after the fact. The story was excellently written showing exactly how the main character felt through his entire ordeal. My only problem with the story is the epilogue because it was added afterwards. The only reason it was even in the story was because the publishers felt the story was not complete and they needed closure. It is obvious that the chapter was an afterthought and I feel it should not have been written but that is a little late now.
Political Commentary
Animal Farm by George Orwell (1996ish, February 2007)
On the BBC list - Pretty much my original comments stand on this novel. I find it fantastic and insightful, especially knowing what I know now about communist Russia and society as a whole. The book is very fast paced (I read it in about 2 hours) and its fun to read. It is like read a children's book which has undergone a harsh and realistic viewpoint. In essence the story is about a group of farm animals that find their Master has gone over the line one to many times and they take over the farm. They run the farm well as equals at first but then dissension starts to appear when the two "leaders" start to fight and one ousts the other out of the farm. Orwell's portrayal of communistic society is chilling and he makes it understandable both to the point of how this can happen and why people let it happen. The concept of the book can be illustrated in these famous lines near the end: All animals are equal. But some animals are more equal than others. Definitely on the must read list.
1984 by George Orwell (February-March 2007)
On the Norwegian, Observer, and BBC lists - I can understand why this is one 3 out of the 4 lists. It is a very powerful novel dealing with a totalitarian society and how one might survive in that society. The problem I had with this book was the utter hopelessness of it. Through every page, every paragraph of the book you had a hope that this may end all right and that everything will be right in the world again. But after all is said and done, you knew that it wouldn't. A very depressing book but a definite must read, if only to show and warn people just might be possible. Because you never know.
Children's
Winnie-the-Pooh by AA Milne (July 2006)
On the BBC list - This is on the list mostly because of the movies I'm sure, but it is really good none-the-less. The way the book is set up, is each chapter contains a different adventure with Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends in the Hundred Acre Woods. The unique language that AA Milne uses would be considered poor in most cases but he does it in such a comedic way that it works. The best stories in the book were the first few which were shorter than the rest. The longer the stories got the more the language didn't seem to work but overall I would recommend this book.
Non-Fiction
Walden by Henry David Thoreau (November - December 2006)
On the Sybervision list - When I started this book I was expecting a rather long, dry, dull book, but I was pleasantly surprised. This is listed as a philosophy book but it reminds me much more of an amateur scientist, exploring the world and describing what he sees. The language it poetic and enjoyable to read. He often will comment on aspects of society that still are prevalent, including helping the needy and living for money. The premise of the book is he wanted to live outside of society with no reliance on it and he succeeded, for the most part. I feel that for an educational experience this book should definitely be on everyone's list.
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